Protective covering

ABSTRACT

A protective covering for a shaft output of a transfer gearbox, comprising a solid, inelastic protective covering body, wherein the protective covering body has substantially the form of a frustoconical casing in order to surround a shaft in the region of the shaft output, having a first opening at a first axial end and a second opening at a second axial end, situated opposite from the first end, of the protective covering body, wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening, wherein the second opening is formed to surround the shaft, wherein, in the region of the first opening, a flange portion, lying at the top in the installed position, of the protective covering body is formed to be fastened to a housing of the transfer gearbox, wherein, in the region of the first opening, a portion, lying at the bottom in the installed position, of the protective covering body is formed to provide an outflow opening when the flange portion is fastened to the housing of the transfer gearbox.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to German Patent ApplicationSerial No. 102019205870.1 filed Apr. 24, 2019, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protective covering for a shaftoutput of a transfer gearbox, and to a transfer gearbox comprising ashaft at a shaft output of the transfer gearbox and a protectivecovering for the shaft output.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section provides information related to the present disclosurewhich is not necessarily prior art

Transfer gearboxes in motor vehicles serve to split an input torque overa plurality of outputs. The input torque and/or the output torques canbe guided via rotatably mounted shafts respectively into or out of thetransfer gearbox. Such shaft outputs of a transfer gearbox have theproblem that, for example, water or dirt could penetrate into thetransfer gearbox and may damage the gearbox. Therefore, it is known toimplement protective measures in the region of a shaft output of atransfer gearbox in order to prevent the penetration of water. Inparticular, seals are used at the shaft outputs in order to prevent thepenetration of water, for example three sealing rings at the three shaftoutputs.

Known protective measures for preventing an ingress of water into atransfer gearbox are also, for example, the use of an underbodyprotection system in this region or the use of centrifugal discs, whichoutwardly centrifuge water by way of a rotating element and thus preventthe ingress of water through a radially inwardly lying clearance.

It is also known to use in the region of shaft outputs deformable and/orelastic folding sleeves that bear as tightly as possible againstcomponents of the transfer gearbox and partially also against the shaftsthemselves, in order to prevent the ingress of water.

DE 706 519 C discloses a folding sleeve made from rubber for the sealingof oscillating half-axles of motor vehicles with respect to the drivehousing, having a longitudinally running separation joint, wherein theseparation joint of the sleeve is held together by a fully separable zipfastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features

It is an object of the invention to specify a protective covering for ashaft output of a transfer gearbox, which effectively prevents theingress of water into the transfer gearbox and can be manufactured andassembled cost-effectively. A further object is to specify a transfergearbox, comprising a shaft output and a protective covering for theshaft output, with the stated advantages.

The protective covering comprises a solid, inelastic protective coveringbody. The protective covering may consist in particular of a solidplastic, of sheet metal or of aluminium. The protective covering bodyhas substantially the form of a frustoconical casing in order tosurround a shaft in the region of the shaft output, having a firstopening at a first axial end and a second opening at a second axial end,situated opposite from the first end, of the protective covering body,wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening. The secondopening or a periphery of the second opening is formed to surround theshaft. In the region of the first opening, a flange portion, lying atthe top in the installed position, of the protective covering body isformed to be fastened to a housing of the transfer gearbox. A portion,lying at the bottom in the region of the first opening in the installedposition, of the protective covering body is formed to provide anoutflow opening when the flange portion is fastened to the housing ofthe transfer gearbox.

According to the invention, although a protective covering body isformed similarly to a folding sleeve in terms of form, it is not formedto be deformable or elastic in terms of either form or material. Rather,the solid protective covering body is formed such that it can befastened to the gearbox housing at the axial end of the transfer gearboxvia a flange at the top in the installed position; however, in thiscase, an outflow opening remains at the bottom in the installedposition, either as a gap towards the gearbox housing or as an openingformed in the protective covering body.

The structure made from a solid, inelastic material makes it possible toproduce and assemble the protective covering easily andcost-effectively. The configuration according to the invention does notmake it possible to completely prevent an ingress of water into theinterior of the protective covering; however, an outflow opening isformed at the bottom of the protective covering such that waterpenetrating into the protective covering can flow out downwardly via theoutflow opening before it ingresses into the transfer gearbox.

In the region of the second opening, a peripheral portion of theprotective covering body is preferably formed such that it surrounds theshaft in a non-sealing manner, such that a gap is formed at least incertain portions between the peripheral portion of the protectivecovering body and the shaft. The gap is particularly preferably formedaround the full periphery between the peripheral portion of theprotective covering body and the shaft. By way of such a gap between theprotective covering body and the shaft, the shaft can rotate freely,without grinding losses. Penetrating water can be discharged again viathe outflow opening.

Preferably, in the region of the first opening, a portion, lying at thebottom in the installed position, of the protective covering body isformed such that, when the flange portion is fastened to the housing ofthe transfer gearbox, a gap exists between the protective covering bodyand the housing of the transfer gearbox, such that the gap forms theoutflow opening.

As an alternative or in addition, in the region of the first opening, aportion, lying at the bottom in the installed position, of theprotective covering body may comprise the outflow opening, that is tosay the opening may be formed in the protective covering body.

The protective covering body or an upper protective covering body partmay be adhesively bonded and/or screwed and/or fastened in aform-fitting manner, in particular clip-fastened, to the housing of thetransfer gearbox.

The protective covering body is preferably of a multi-part form,particularly preferably of a two-part form, wherein the parts of theprotective covering body can preferably be clip-fastened to one another.

The protective covering body may comprise an upper protective coveringbody part, which forms the flange portion, lying at the top in theinstalled position, of the protective covering body, and may comprise alower protective covering body part, which forms that portion, lying atthe bottom in the installed position, of the protective covering bodywhich provides the outflow opening when the flange portion is fastenedto the housing of the transfer gearbox.

The upper protective covering body part may then be adhesively bonded orfastened in another way to the housing of the transfer gearbox via theflange portion. The lower protective covering body part can beclip-fastened to the upper protective covering body part.

According to the invention, a transfer gearbox may comprise a shaft anda protective covering, as described above, at the shaft output of thetransfer gearbox such that the protective covering body surrounds theshaft in the region of the shaft output, wherein the second openingsurrounds the shaft, wherein, in the region of the first opening, theflange portion, lying at the top in the installed position, of theprotective covering body is fastened, preferably adhesively bonded, tothe housing of the transfer gearbox, wherein, in the region of the firstopening, the portion, lying at the bottom in the installed position, ofthe protective covering body provides the outflow opening. In this case,a gap preferably exists between the protective covering body and thehousing of the transfer gearbox such that the gap forms the outflowopening.

In the region of the second opening, a peripheral portion of theprotective covering body preferably surrounds the shaft in a non-sealingmanner, such that a gap is formed at least in certain portions betweenthe peripheral portion of the protective covering body and the shaft,particularly preferably a gap is formed around the full peripherybetween the peripheral portion of the protective covering body and theshaft.

The flange portion, lying at the top in the region of the first openingin the installed position, of the protective covering body is preferablyadhesively bonded to the housing of the transfer gearbox.

Within the protective covering body, a centrifugal disc may also befastened to the shaft in order to remove water from the protectivecovering body, in particular through the outflow opening.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a protective covering according to theinvention in the installed state with a shaft.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a further protective covering according tothe invention in the installed state with a shaft.

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional representation of a protective coveringaccording to the invention in the installed state without a shaft.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the protective covering according to theinvention in the installed state without a shaft according to FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a lateral representation of the protective covering accordingto the invention in the installed state without a shaft according toFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional representation of a protective coveringaccording to the invention according to FIG. 3, but during installation.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the protective covering according to theinvention during installation according to FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a lateral representation of the protective covering accordingto the invention during installation according to FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a transfer gearbox according to the invention, comprising ahousing 6 of the transfer gearbox and a shaft 2 at a shaft output of thetransfer gearbox as well as a protective covering according to theinvention.

The protective covering for the shaft output of the transfer gearboxcomprises a solid, inelastic protective covering body 1, preferably madefrom plastic, which has substantially the form of a frustoconical casingin order to surround the shaft 2 in the region of the shaft output,having a larger first opening 3 at a first axial end and a smallersecond opening 4 at a second axial end, situated opposite from the firstend, of the protective covering body 1.

The second opening 4 surrounds the shaft 2 in a non-sealing manner, suchthat a gap 8 is formed at least in certain portions between theperipheral portion of the protective covering body 1 and the shaft 2,preferably a gap 8 is formed around the full periphery between theperipheral portion of the protective covering body 1 and the shaft 2.

In the region of the larger, first opening 3, lying at the top in theinstalled position, a flange portion 5 of the protective covering body 1that is adhesively bonded to the housing 6 of the transfer gearbox isformed. In addition to a permanent adhesive bond of the flange portion5, in this region the protective covering may be fastened to the housing6, for example by means of double-sided adhesive tape, during assembly.

In the region of the first opening 3, lying at the bottom in theinstalled position, a portion of the protective covering body 1 isformed such that, when the flange portion 5 is fastened to the housing 6of the transfer gearbox, an outflow opening 7 in the form of a gap 9 isformed between the protective covering body 1 and the housing 6 of thetransfer gearbox.

As can be seen in the embodiment of the transfer gearbox in FIG. 2,within the protective covering body 1 a centrifugal disc 13 may befastened to the shaft 2.

FIG. 3 to FIG. 8 show that the protective covering body 1 may be oftwo-part form. FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 show the two parts of the protectivecovering body 1 during assembly, before they are connected to oneanother, and FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 show the protective covering afterconnection has taken place, such that the two parts of the protectivecovering body 1 are clip-fastened to one another by means of a clipconnection 10.

The protective covering body 1 comprises an upper protective coveringbody part 11, which forms the flange portion 5, lying at the top in theinstalled position, of the protective covering body 1, and comprises alower protective covering body part 12, which forms that portion, lyingat the bottom in the installed position, of the protective covering body1 which provides the outflow opening 7 when the flange portion 5 isfastened to the housing 6 of the transfer gearbox. The upper protectivecovering body part 11 and the lower protective covering body part 12 areclip-fastened to one another by means of the clip connection 10.

The protective covering may be centred, for example, via lugsdistributed on the periphery of the transfer gearbox. It is possible foronly the upper protective covering body part 11 to be fastened, inparticular adhesively bonded, to the housing 6 of the transfer gearbox.The lower protective covering body part 12 may be fastened only to theupper protective covering body part 11. Towards the housing 6, a gap 9may be easily formed as a result on the lower protective covering bodypart 12 as outflow opening 7.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

-   1 Protective covering body-   2 Shaft-   3 First opening-   4 Second opening-   5 Flange portion-   6 Housing-   7 Outflow opening-   8 Gap-   9 Gap-   10 Clip connection-   11 Upper protective covering body part-   12 Lower protective covering body part-   13 Centrifugal disc

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective covering for a shaft at a shaftoutput of a transfer gearbox, the protective covering comprising asolid, inelastic protective covering body, wherein the protectivecovering body has a substantially frustoconical shape in order tosurround the shaft in a region of the shaft output, the protectivecovering body having a first opening at a first axial end of theprotective covering body and a second opening at a second axial end ofthe protective covering body situated opposite the first axial end,wherein the first opening is larger than the second opening, wherein thesecond opening is formed to surround the shaft, wherein a top of theprotective covering body in a region of the first opening includes aflange portion configured to be fastened to a housing of the transfergearbox in an installed position, wherein a bottom of the protectivecovering body in the region of the first opening is formed such thatwhen the flange portion is fastened to the housing of the transfergearbox in the installed position, a gap exists between the protectivecovering body and the housing of the transfer gearbox such that the gapforms an outflow opening.
 2. The protective covering according to claim1, wherein in a region of the second opening, a peripheral portion ofthe protective covering body is formed such that the peripheral portionsurrounds the shaft in a non-sealing manner, such that an annular gap isformed between the peripheral portion of the protective covering bodyand the shaft around a full periphery of the peripheral portion of theprotective covering body.
 3. The protective covering according to claim1, wherein the protective covering body is comprised of two parts beingclip-fastened to one another.
 4. The protective covering according toclaim 1, wherein the protective covering body comprises an upperprotective covering body part which forms the flange portion at the topof the protective covering body in the installed position, and whereinthe protective covering body further comprises a lower protectivecovering body part at the bottom of the protective covering body in theinstalled position which provides the outflow opening when the flangeportion is fastened to the housing of the transfer gearbox.
 5. Atransfer gearbox, comprising a shaft at a shaft output of the transfergearbox, and a protective covering body extending between a firstopening and a second opening opposite the first opening, wherein thefirst and second openings surround the shaft, wherein the protectivecovering body includes a flange portion at a top of the protectivecovering body at a region of the first opening, the flange portionconfigured to be fastened to a housing of the transfer gearbox when inan installed position, wherein a bottom of the protective covering bodyat the region of the first opening is configured to define a gap betweenthe protective covering body and the housing of the transfer gearboxwhen the protective covering body is in the installed position such thatthe gap forms an outflow opening.
 6. The transfer gearbox according toclaim 5, wherein the flange portion of the protective covering body isadhesively bonded to the housing of the transfer gearbox.
 7. Thetransfer gearbox according to claim 5, wherein in a region of the secondopening, a peripheral portion of the protective covering body surroundsthe shaft in a non-sealing manner, such that an annular gap is formedbetween the peripheral portion of the protective covering body and theshaft around a full periphery of the protective covering body betweenthe peripheral portion of the protective covering body and the shaft. 8.The transfer gearbox according to claim 5, wherein a centrifugal disc isfastened to the shaft within the protective covering body.
 9. Aprotective covering for covering a shaft at a shaft output of a transfergearbox, comprising: a solid, inelastic protective covering body havinga substantially frustoconical shape and configured to surround the shaftin a region of the shaft output; the protective covering body extendingalong an axis between a first opening at a first axial end and a secondopening at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, wherein thefirst opening is larger than the second opening; the protective coveringbody including a flange portion extending radially relative to the axisat a top of the protective covering body at a region of the firstopening for being fastened to a housing of the transfer gearbox in aninstalled position; and a portion of a bottom of the protective coveringbody at the region of the first opening being formed such that when theflange portion is fastened to the housing of the transfer gearbox a gapis defined between the protective covering body and the housing of thetransfer gearbox such that the gap forms an outflow opening.
 10. Theprotective covering as set forth in claim 9, wherein a peripheralportion of the protective covering body is formed in a region of thesecond opening such that the peripheral portion surrounds the shaft withan annular gap formed between the peripheral portion and the shaftaround a full periphery of the shaft such that the peripheral portionsurrounds the shaft in a non-sealing manner.
 11. The protective coveringas set forth in claim 9, wherein the protective covering body iscomprised of two parts that are clip-fastened to one another.
 12. Theprotective covering according to claim 9, wherein the protectivecovering body comprises an upper protective covering body part whichforms the flange portion at the top of the protective covering body inthe installed position, and wherein the protective covering body furthercomprises a lower protective covering body part at the bottom of theprotective covering body in the installed position which provides theoutflow opening when the flange portion is fastened to the housing ofthe transfer gearbox.
 13. The transfer gearbox according to claim 9,wherein the flange portion of the protective covering body is adhesivelybonded to the housing of the transfer gearbox.
 14. The transfer gearboxaccording to claim 9, wherein a centrifugal disc is fastened to theshaft within the protective covering body.